Psychological abuse was highest among people over 65 at 27 per cent, followed by physical (22 per cent) and financial (21 per cent).

And just two per cent of the 7,884 cases were self-reported – with four per cent of concerns being raised by families.

38 per cent chose to contact the HSE through a representative from a voluntary agency and 26 per cent through general or public health nurses.

Vulnerable adults include people living with dementia, mental health problems, physical disability or intellectual disability.

The National Safeguarding Committee (NSC) has launched a nationwide campaign to increase public understanding of what constitutes abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults – and the need for greater awareness, policy and legal frameworks to safeguard vulnerable adults.

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Chairperson Patricia Rickard Clarke said the HSE figures showed a worrying prevalence of adult abuse and a need for greater public awareness.

She said: “There is a lack of public understanding as to what actually constitutes abuse and what safeguarding means for vulnerable adults who are those most at risk.

“This is shown in that families and individuals reported relatively few cases.

“This aim of the National Safeguarding Committee campaign is to show that taking money to cover care expenses without a person’s knowledge, over medicating, or locking someone in a room while going out is not OK.

“These are abuses of people’s liberties and rights – including vulnerable people who lack capacity.

“A particular area of concern is financial abuse. I believe that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg.”

Patricia added: “Once permission to manage a vulnerable person’s money is handed over to someone else, there is no monitoring as to how that money is then spent and allocated.

“The majority of people are honourable, but figures suggest that in up to 20 per cent of cases financial abuse occurs.

“The Department of Social Protection is currently looking at how to tackle financial abuse which is to be welcomed.

“We need a transparent tracking system which accounts for the uses of the finances of people who have reduced capacity.”